The successes of Team GB at the Paris Olympics and the World Rowing Championships in Canada has left crews eager to build in preparation for winter time trials ahead. With the Paralympics about to start September marks the transition from the side by side regattas of summer towards the longer distance head racing season ahead.
Side by side racing continues for a few weeks yet, during which Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club hosts the North of England Sprint Rowing Championships over 500 metres, and the last two Sunday League rounds take place at Talkin Tarn on September 1st and Durham on October 6th. Crews from Durham ARC will be taking part in the 30th British Rowing Tour over 71km on the River Thames between August 29th and September 1st while the more ambitious will be heading to Germany for the 2024 World Rowing Masters Regatta between September 11th to 15th, which includes 3 entries from Durham ARC
Preparations are already underway for the head racing season which starts with Tyne Single Scullers Head, contested over 3km of the River Tyne on Saturday, September 14th, the same day as the Vesta Scullers Head on the River Thames which is the first of 4 Tideway Heads before the end of the year.
Head racing continues in earnest with the Northern Region’s autumn flagship Long Distance Sculling Series, held over 6 consecutive Saturdays between September 28th and November 2nd, with the final event being Durham’s double header Long Distance Sculling and Autumn Small Boats Head events. Before that are rounds at Berwick, Tees (LDS and SBH), Tyne (and Tyne United Small Boats Head), Wansbeck (LDS and SBH) and South Hylton. Entries for Tees SBH on October 5th are open already and those for other rounds will follow 3 weeks before each round. Further information will be available on the Northern Rowing website. Cambois Rowing Club is proud to have completed the construction of its new pontoon which will be unveiled in time for the Wansbeck events.
At the performance end of the spectrum the more challenging Tideway Heads continue with the Pairs Head on October 12th (for which entries will open on September 6th), Veteran Fours Head on November 23rd and Fours Head over the Championship course on November 24th.
The Autumn season rounds off back on the Tyne with Rutherford Head contested over 5km on November 30th.
Other available competitions and tours are listed in the British Rowing Calendar.
If you are interested in joining the Senior Women or Senior Men’s squads for the 2024-25 season please email Senior Vice Captain Lucy at seniorvc@durham-arc.org.uk or to join the Women’s or Men’s Masters squads email Masters Vice Captain George at mastersvc@durham-arc.org.uk
To find out about Learn to Row Courses for Adults and Juniors please email learntorow@durham-arc.org.uk